AFD Group’s £1.25 Million Giveaway

by LC

Each year since 1998 the AFD Group has held a charity evening at which it donates a large proportion of its profits to charities working in the Isle of Man, the British Isles, and throughout the world, making this year’s event the 20th such occasion since AFD arrived on the Isle of Man.

Each member of AFD Software’s fifty strong workforce is invited to nominate a charity to receive a company donation in their name and this year AFD will have donated well over £1,250,000. Many of the nominations are deeply personal to the AFD Team member. Recently, AFD’s staff, charity and community representatives, and the company’s neighbours gathered to celebrate these donations.

AFD Software Limited began operations in 1983 and has specialised in postcode software for over twenty three years – in fact they distribute data on the 30 million delivery addressees in the UK from the Royal Mail’s mainframe computer files, to the over 40,000 organisations who use it on their web-sites or in their record systems. AFD’s products are at the heart of web sites and computer databases where using the postcode helps businesses, charities and public sector organisations to enter addresses quickly, accurately and consistently.

Since 2014, AFD has been renovating and developing the Isle of Man’s first dedicated technology, media and innovation centre at Mountain View on the site of the Island Film Studios, just outside Ramsey. It has made a multi-million pound investment for future growth, for the development of new and growing technology businesses, and to make a range of facilities and venues available for community use. Tonight’s event will be the first to take place in the recently refurnished state-of-the-art multi-media venue at the heart of the centre.

“This is night is the highlight of our year” says group Director, Alison Dorricott “when, in partnership with charities, churches and community initiatives, we can help transform lives and bring hope and encouragement for those who work so hard to make a difference”.Amongst over 65 charities receiving donations this year, AFD is helping people suffering serious illnesses or working on medical research in the British Isles. Closer to home, AFD is partnering to help those who are homeless here on the Isle of Man – and those helping people overcome disabilities.

Some years ago, AFD established a partnership with Chapel Street, a Christian charity in the UK who have worked hard to provide access to quality education and mentoring in some of the most disadvantaged communities in the UK. This year, guests at AFD’s event will be able to hear of the incredible results of those investments.

David Dorricott, AFD’s Managing Director explains “Access to a quality education can provide a route to hope – and break the cycle of deprivation, but set against the background of poverty and family breakdown, many young people miss this vital opportunity to gain the knowledge, skill and confidence needed to step up from incredibly difficult circumstances. We are simply thrilled to see what a difference can be made’.

AFD’s event takes place this evening at the Mountain View Innovation Centre, on Jurby Road, Lezayre – just outside Ramsey.